PAS 24 and window security standards explained

Straight answers first

Do I legally need PAS 24 windows in my existing home?

Generally no, Part Q applies mainly to certain new dwellings, but many homeowners choose PAS 24 tested products for the security benefit regardless.

Is Secured by Design the same as PAS 24?

No, PAS 24 is the test method, while Secured by Design is a police backed scheme that recognises qualifying products, usually including PAS 24 testing among its requirements.

Does laminated glass replace the need for a good lock?

No, laminated glass addresses the glass itself, while locks and hinges address the frame, so a coherent security specification usually covers both together.

Can existing windows be upgraded to improve security without full replacement?

Some hardware upgrades are possible on existing frames, but a genuinely PAS 24 tested performance applies to the tested assembly as a whole, so full replacement is usually needed to achieve that specific standard.

Are composite doors typically PAS 24 tested?

Many composite door ranges are available with PAS 24 tested configurations, though this depends on the specific door and hardware combination, so it is worth confirming for the exact door you choose.

What PAS 24 actually is

PAS 24 is a published specification that sets out how windows and doors should be tested to demonstrate resistance to physical attack, such as attempts to force, lever or manipulate the frame and locking mechanism. A window or door that has been tested and passed to PAS 24 has been through a defined set of mechanical tests carried out by an accredited test house, not simply described as secure by the manufacturer.

It is a performance standard for the product itself, covering how the frame, glass, hinges and locking hardware behave together under test conditions, rather than a general marketing term.

What the testing covers

The test process looks at the whole assembly under simulated attack rather than judging any single part of the window or door in isolation.

• Manual and mechanical attack tests, simulating tools such as screwdrivers or crowbars being used to force the frame
• Cyclic testing on hinges and hardware, to check they continue to perform after repeated use
• Testing of the locking points and cylinder together with the frame, since security depends on the whole assembly, not one component alone

Part Q and when it applies

Building Regulations Part Q sets requirements for security of doors and windows, but it applies specifically to certain new dwellings in England, not automatically to every window replacement in an existing home. Where Part Q does apply, doors and windows meeting the PAS 24 standard are a recognised way of demonstrating compliance.

For most replacement window and door projects on existing houses, Part Q compliance is not a legal requirement in the way it is for the new build properties it was written for, though many homeowners still choose PAS 24 rated products because of the security benefit itself, not because the regulation requires it. It is always worth checking your specific circumstances rather than assuming a blanket rule applies.

Secured by Design

Secured by Design is a police backed initiative that promotes crime prevention through design, including for doors and windows. Products carrying Secured by Design recognition are generally PAS 24 tested as part of qualifying, so the two standards are closely linked, but Secured by Design is a wider scheme covering the product's design and approval rather than the test method itself.

You may see both terms mentioned together on manufacturer literature, and it is fine to ask an installer to explain which specific standard a product has actually been tested or approved to.

Laminated glass and its role in security

Laminated glass has an interlayer bonded between two panes of glass, so if the glass is struck it tends to crack rather than shatter into an opening, which slows down an attempt to break in through the pane itself. It is a common choice for ground floor windows and doors where glass breakage is one of the more obvious points of weakness, and it can be specified alongside PAS 24 rated frames and hardware for a more complete approach to security.

Cylinders and multipoint locks

On doors, the lock cylinder and the multipoint locking gearbox work together, and weaknesses in either one can undermine an otherwise well made door. Anti-snap cylinders are designed to resist a common method of forcing a euro cylinder lock, and they are frequently specified alongside PAS 24 tested doors as part of a coherent security specification.

On windows, multipoint locking distributes the load across several points around the frame rather than relying on a single catch, which is part of what is assessed during PAS 24 testing.

Hinge protection and other details

Security hinges, sometimes with hinge bolts or similar features, help stop a door being forced from the hinge side rather than the lock side. These details tend to be built into a product's PAS 24 tested design rather than added afterwards, which is one reason it matters to ask about the whole assembly rather than a single component in isolation.

What to ask for on a quote

We are happy to talk through security options for your home as part of a free survey, and to set out clearly on your fixed written quote exactly what is being specified.

• Whether the window or door system is PAS 24 tested, and for which configuration
• What locking hardware and cylinder type is being fitted
• Whether laminated glass is available or included for ground floor openings
• Whether the product carries Secured by Design recognition, if that matters to you